The sound of groaning greets my ears as I wake… no, it's not mine… I open my eyes and see a trail of blankets going from the bed to the bathroom, like it was dragged one at a time and let go, breadcrumbs to a murder scene.

“Ugghhh whhhyy!!!” Zelia’s voice emanates in anger from ahead of me and my legs move faster than my brain. Instantly appearing at the bathroom door she is leaning over the toilet, with a smell of vomit already emanating from it. “Whhhyyyy it hurts mnn mnn blagh” As she leans over again I hear the splashing and quickly approach her side, putting my hands on my shoulders and rub them. “Ahh! Please not so hard, everything hurts! My fucking brain hurts and my body feels like its going to fall apart!” fuck fuck, we didn’t even have sex last night or drink anything it’s not any of that… unless…

“Zelia… you don't think you're maybe… pregnant?” She pauses in disbelief and then laughs out loud, instantly reeling over in pain again while she giggles through it.

“Hah-oww you’re such a fucking haha dumm-fuck! I love you but haha where am I getting pregnant from! My ass?! Haha-oowww fuck.” I open my eyes in shock at my own stupidity, right, yes not equipped with that kind of biology right, aahhhh.

“I'm sorry love I wasn't thinking, you know I don't see you as anything but a woman, for me that the vomiting and pain just kinda made sense?!” She keeps giggling softly, her face against the toilet as I gently massage her shoulders. Softly I try to talk to her a bit and after a bit she shrugs me off.

“Mnn please take me to the shower?... Maybe hot water will help… also can you get Fia to get me some drugs or something?” I pull her up as gently as I can as I take her wordlessly to the shower, it starts flowing as we get there and I thank Fia. I turn to the bathroom door and a small round robot is hovering and waiting for me with a company logo on it, a bag in its small robot hand. As I take it it blips and then I watch it go out through the front door and it closes behind it.

“Thank you Fia! You're a lifesaver!” She humms in a motherly tone.

“Of course, anything for both my poor loves. I got those prescribed from a doctor friend of mine, they should make her feel a lot better soon. After the shower you two should get ready as well, to get to the central region you will need to take a 2 hour over-land train!” Oh right, frigging trains.

“We will, thank you again Fia! Oh and uhh before we go, could we talk maybe?... Once Zelia is at home getting clothes and things ready?” She can feel the apprehension in my voice.

“Is it something worrying?” My eyes widen as it sounds like it's something really serious, which it is but ugh stupid feelings.

“Umm no not wrong it's just a lot for me I guess… anyway, very soon, thank you!” She humms and I rush back into the bathroom not to forget my beautiful, in pain, patient. Pulling out the bag there is an Axi-Yum electrolyte drink and a prescription box with ‘Zelia Lanz’ on it, damn she got prescription medication here fast!?

I pull it open and inside are silver looking pills, they kinda remind me of the moon a little, damn thats cool, all mine were bright colours but never silver… ugh patient fuck. I open the drink and pull her out slightly so she's out of the water.

“Hey love, Fia got you medicine and a drink to wash it down with, can you do that for me? Fia is always looking out for us so I'm sure what she says is true! Uhh says here you've got to take 2 a day at once for the next week”

“Mnn fuck I’ll try ugh my throat hurts from vomiting…” She takes a chug from the drink first and then takes the pills from me, throwing them back in her mouth following it up with my drink. Gulp “Ugh the drink helps at least, she got the best flavor… Alright I’m going to relax a little, have your talk with Fia, I know it means a lot to you.” I kiss her on the forehead and she weakly cheers for me, my beautiful cheerleader, always on my side. I lean the door open a little in case she needs to yell for me and I head to the couch, falling into it and sighing...

“Kinda wish I was in the capsule for this…”

“I'm right here Lilia darling, even if you can't see me next to you, like a… warm ghost, but not spooky!” I can't help but laugh as she’s perfectly relieved the tension.

“Hah my own personal spooky ghost~ mnn… I wanted to talk about your name… I have been thinking about it, not that I'm much of a thinker… but whenever I think of you I think of my mum, or… I guess who my mother would have been if I had a normal childhood… and she happened to have a F name as well… Felicity… N-not that I would be using you as a replacement for her, you’re your own person and its been 13 years since she died so I just thought since you make me feel like I have a mother again, fuck I’m so bad at everything…” Somewhere through I’d started crying, no amount of therapy could save my brain, even when it’s been tried I’d had to change people twice,the first two dropping me and the third vanishing when I’d needed a session the most, telling me they were unable to do anything for me, like I was just incurable. My brain forever to be a horrible mess.

“Felicity… I really like that… although I don't know much about your past except for what's in your hospitalization and rehabilitation records… I know you’re so beautiful and lovable on the inside and I think that's what really counts, and no matter what, I’ll be by your side, spooky ghost or not!” Fuck I wish I could hug her right now… maybe we can get like a body for her to occupy when we get a better apartment together and stuff… would that be too weird though…

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“So you want that as your name? You're okay with it even if it has like… I don't know, baggage attached?” She humms for a second.

“Well… it's not baggage I feel, as much as it is showing how important your feelings are, you see me as a mother figure and I need a name and hers is important to you… Besides, it's a really nice name that I could make my own… I adore you Lilia and I do see you as my own, even if we aren't connected by flesh or blood. I will do my best to protect you and always do what's right by you… okay? You can trust me on that.” I nod happily with tears in my eyes, I believe that fully, she is on my side 100% she is tricky and a little conniving but in a good way, people were always cautious about A.I. but they already are in our lives and around us whether people like it or not. They have only done their best by humanity’s side from everything I’ve seen and know… only humans have hurt me…

“Thank you… really… although it is a little long… Can I call you Fel?” She giggles.

“You really are one for nicknames aren't you! I mean… if it’s always too long you can always call me mum hehe” I blush at her words, I mean I swear I’ve nearly called her that before, like calling a teacher mum in class and having all the kids laugh at you… fuck that takes me back a few years.

“Please don't bully me Fel! I swear it’s bad enough with all the bullying Zelia does~”

“Mnn but we bully because we both love you… and seeing big strong Lilia blush is a treat in itself!” I hide my head in my hands, my face growing hotter in embarrassment, why do you do this to me boddyy!! “Oh… Zelia is starting to rouse, make sure to dry her off. I’ll set the lights from the house to low, her head must be throbbing, she should be okay after a short rest in bed though!”

I quickly run in and the shower turns off, reaching In I wrap her in a towel and make sure she is fully encompassed before I start rubbing her body slowly. She has her eyes closed and is mumbling a little bit, some words of pain… and some I can't quite hear. I pick her up fully and bring her out, guided by memory in the darkness of the house, just barely being able to see any obstacles. I lay her down as slow as I can while placing myself next to her, letting our bodies mesh together for her warmth. She is soft, softer than usual, I brush her skin and bring shivers to her whole body as she clenches her teeth. I hum a song from one of the anime’s she made me watch with her and feel her breathings slow to a gentle crawl.

A whisper comes from around us “Setting alarm for an hour, I’ve also messaged Keeks your travel schedule, please do not worry, Zelia will be fine once she wakes up. You will still be able to have your wonderful day with your new friend!” I nod and press my head against Zelia’s, her warmth and heartbeat sending me off to sleep as well.

…

“You are ssure one lucky kid, you seem to have a friend in high places! Most of the otherss had to get taken away in case they caused trouble, hey you might still… I don't regret ssaving you though… not many can ssurvive what you did… take care now… your life iss in your own handss, no one to save your asss.” Their voice seems so familiar, like a dream within a dream I once had, coming to the surface, a bubble rising from under a rock in a lake that's been trapped since before it was a lake. I need to know… please…

“My love wake up… wake up my love… you're having some kind of night terror… I'm here, it's okay.” I groan as I feel the dark absconding from my consciousness, moist lips gently kissing my forehead. “I thought I was the one having a bad time, my poor little cow might need more rest!” I giggle and then cough as I swallow some spittle, pushing myself up so I have better airflow but the pain still in my throat.

“I was dreaming about something… ugh I don't even know though… someone talking to me… feels like it was decades ago, someone from before we met… It doesn't matter, it was probably just a silly dream or something… it didn't feel like one of my nightmares at least.” Zel pushes me back onto my back and straddles my body, staring deep into my eyes.

“It does matter, you matter and your dreams and nightmares and feelings matter… got it?!” I cough a little again and salute her with as much over-enthusiasm as I can muster.

“Yes ma’am!” A beeping comes from the lounge room as Buta comes barreling in, jumps on the bed and dives headfirst into Zelia’s back, her whole body sprawling forwards. I feel the weight of Buta through Zelia’s. A head pokes over her shoulder. “No… no, bad Buta, your breath stinks noo!” Buta opens their mouth and starts licking my face, their stinky breath filling my lungs making me cough again, not helping the situation. “Zel please get up so she can get off meee~” Zel tries to pull herself up but can't seem to pull rest herself from under my heavy kitty, Buta’s weight causing us to struggle and struggle.

A tinkling comes from the foodbowl and as quickly as they arrived, they vanish, seemingly teleporting to the food dispenser… ugh… I can still smell it… blegh… Zel quickly gets off me and rushes to the bathroom, coming back with some of the wipes I tried to use with makeup and rubs it all over my face, the smell of greenery instead filling my thoughts… my two lifesavers, thank the gods!

“20 Minutes until you have to leave! The route and schedule is programmed into your modules as well as your tickets, don't be late or you're going to miss your friend, also she left you a message, quick quick!”

I smile at Felicity's motherly tendencies, I really could get used to this…